The Ponoka Stampeders and Rimbey Rock of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League each have a new head coach for the 2009-10 season.

The Stampeders have hired southern Alberta product Randy Rook as their new bench boss. Rook, the author of ‘Winning Strategies To Unleash the Champion Within’ and a graduate of

Sports Management Worldwide, resides in Camrose.

Rook had a brief tryout with Kingston of the OHL before pulling the pin on his playing career due to an injury. He’s been involved in minor hockey at several levels through the past 30 years.

“One of my main goals this year is to get the players on the Stampeders as much exposure as possible,” he said. “I intend on being in communication with many scouts from various junior A, WHL and college teams. The more exposure our players get from outside sources the more opportunities open up.”

The Stampeders will conduct try-out sessions Sept. 12-13.

Meanwhile, the Rock have named Dean Norstrom as head coach and have appointed Rick Pankiw as general manager for the ‘09-10 Heritage League season. Both have served in the same capacities in previous years.

• Former Rock forward and Heritage League scoring champion Dallas Hand is the new marketing manager with the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Hand, a Spruce View native, was selected by the Red Deer Rebels in the 2000 WHL bantam draft.